With nearly 300 ghost towns and centuries-old cliff dwellings from the state’s original inhabitants, Arizona has no shortage of abandoned places to encounter. Each sits in varying states of decay, ranging from vague hints of the town’s existence to partially restores or even recreated properties. If you want to see the remains of an Arizona ghost town without worrying that you’ll encounter just the bare bones of a once thriving town, then you’ll want to check out this old mining town located in southern Arizona.

Ruby was established as a mining camp in 1877 where gold, silver, copper, and other mineral ore were extracted from the mine. In 1912, the camp’s post office (and later the town) was named after the general store owner’s wife.
Johnida Dockens/Flickr
The town steadily grew to a population of about 1,200 between the 1920s and 1940s. During this time, it was the largest producer of lead, zinc, and silver in the state, eventually ranking third in silver production.
Johnida Dockens/Flickr
The good times didn’t last long. By 1940, the mines were far less profitable. The entire operation shut down and the town was abandoned within a year.
velo_city/Flickr
These days, the mining town sits alone and is slowly deteriorating in the Sonoran Desert just a few miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.
velo_city/Flickr

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Within recent years, however, efforts have been made to preserve and restore what's left of the town.
velo_city/Flickr
One of the best examples is the old school house. Efforts have been made to stabilize the building and showcase the ambience of the time period.
Alan Stark/Wikimedia Commons
Other areas are a little less safe. Some of the buildings, such as the assay office, are structurally unsound and areas where mining occurred are considered unsafe to walk on. Keep this in mind when visiting and obey any signs that warn of danger.
velo_city/Flickr
The town is for tours Thursdays through Sundays from 9am until dark. You will need to pay an entry fee and there are occasional guided tours offered through Pima Community College.
Sherry Nelson/Flickr

Ruby is located approximately 75 miles south of Tucson via Interstate 19 and Arivaca Road. You can find details about visiting the town on rubyaz.com which features rates, directions, maps, and waivers.

Have you had a chance to visit Ruby? If so, we would love to read your experiences! And, if you want to check out another Arizona ghost town, we bet you will love reading about Fairbank, which is also located in southern Arizona. Read more in A Visit To This Arizona Ghost Town Will Make You Feel Like You’ve Traveled Back In Time.

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